Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-04-14
TEE PEAoH BASKET.
Some Points of Ensersst ON the Re-
cepIncie.

When q week OF two ago one of the
| peach growers suggested in communica-
tion in the Times, paper peach baskets to
ship peaches in as o way ont of the srarl
about "free baskets" TO go with the fruit,
| it doubtless raised smile of incredulity
on the part of many, but 1t seems such a
basket has come, and the inventor says,
come to stay, and in multiplied numbers
His name is George H. Gillette of New
York, and he was in Smyrna yesterday.
He talked around with our peach growers
to learn something of the kind Of basket
wanted, and Charles Fl. Register, acting
as his agent, will have specimen of the
basket at the meeting OF the peach
| growers on Saturday afternoon next The
New York World which has q picture of
1t says it can be made for about four
cents Mr.. Gilettt's factory is at Newark,
| N. j., and he says after the first of May
he can turn them out at the rate OF
$4,000 day.
The executive committee appointed at tho
| fruit growers meeting at town hail Smyrna,
Saturday, March 26tn, hereby call meet
ing OF the growers OF our county for Satur-
day, April 9th, at o'clock, p. M, ut our
| town hall, 70 discuss more fully the peach
basket question, and to secure thorough CO.
operation by the appointment Of similar
committees at meetings in all the large
towns OF our Peninsula. By order, d. J
Cummins, Chairman, Alfred Hudson, John
h. Hotrecker, Robert Hill, Samuel Roberts,
A. q. Cummins, Executive Committee.
There is every reason TO believe and
predict that this meeting will be one Of
the largest and most enthusiastic meetings
ever held in Smyrna, outside of politics.
The farmers everywhere around us are
aroused and determined to assert them.
selves and fight for their rights. It is
| rumoTed that some new and most impor-
taut subjects are to be brought up that
no farmer ought to fail to hear discussed.
They are vital to their interests. And it
is also rumored that there will be a gay
and lively time. The prospect is that the
meeting will take most free and
thorough range as an Experience Meet
ing" in which brother farmers may warm
each other up, as they forcibly express
their sentiments.
THE BASKET QUESTION IN JERSEY.
Under the titls "Free Truck Baskets
VS.. Deposits" the Pennsgrove Record of
the I'd inst. says; The making of Dr.
Roe's bill law to compel commission
merchants TO make a deposit to secure
the return of truck baskets will create an
ill contention OF no small proportions.
The retail grocers and commission mer-
chants of New York have decided that no
deposits will be paid on peach baskets by
the grocers, aud that hereafter the
peaches must be shipped in free baskets.
The grocers claim that they cannot afford
to lose the money paid for lost baskets,
which in the season averages from 800 TO
$500 man. There are 500 grocery
men, and this means an immense sum.
The cost of peach baskets varies from
to ~ cents each, and the growers insist
that they cannot supply the baskets
free rs that would ruin them.
Among the heaviest losers in New Jersey
would be Messrs. d. II. Cummings, W.
d. Hudson, H. 8. Anthony, A. L. Hudson,
j. w. Anthony and D. Rees of Clayton,
who expect to handle this year 10000
baskets apieea. If they are obliged TO
send peaches in free baskets it may be
that they cannot at rd to sell in the New
York market at all. The same restriction
will injure the peach raisers of elawsre.
The average cost of shipping peaches to
New York is 26 csnts-tWo cents for pick
ing, four cents railroad charge, cartat
four cents and for commission 10 per
cent. These expenses cannot be cat
down, as the railroads and commission
merchants say they are handling fruit at
cut rates now. The only alternative is to
cut down the truckmen, but that can't
be done, as they have already de.
clared they wouldn't stand it. The
growers of New Jersey and Delaware
expect this years crop to reach million
and half baskets and, as they canntt
afford to give baskets which cost on an
average eight cents apiece, away fer
nothing, something will have to be done,
or New York and Brooklyn will get no
peaches this summer. The only plan to
settle the matter is to compromise it by
having baskets returned as formerly, and
where there are losses instead of the
farmer bearing all let the commission
merchants be made to pay for half. The
losses of peach baskets are so great be-
cause grocerymen allow customers to take
baskets home with them and neither one
cares whether they are returned or not.
The fault would be remedied by making
the customer pay for the basket until il
is returned. DR.. Roe's plan is q good
one and the commission merchants and
retailers would have no losses which they
claim would be so heavy if the growers
stand together for the enforcement of the
law, as then the retailers will look
better after the returns.